Abstract: Disclosed is a clear, crystal-free, soap-gelled cosmetic stick composition. The composition includes a soap gelling agent (e.g., sodium stearate); at least two aliphatic polyhydric alcohols that are solvents for the soap gelling agent and that have a relatively small molecular weight and a relatively large molecular weight (e.g., propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol), respectively; a propoxylated ether that is a further solvent for the soap gelling agent, such as a propoxylated butyl ether (e.g., PPG-14 butyl ether); water; and a clarifying agent. The clarifying agent is a mixture of (a) a propoxylated fatty alcohol, such as a propoxylated myristyl ether (e.g., PPG-3 myristyl ether), and (b) a water-soluble, N-substituted aliphatic fatty acid amide surfactant (e.g., a combination of cocamide DEA and cocoyl sarcosine). The stick composition has improved surface aesthetics and improved payout, and has less pullaway from the container.